Political candidates and officials in several swing states are proposing new restrictions on data centers amid reports of rising public concern over the facilities' environmental and economic impact. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed an executive order on Tuesday that requires data center developers to cover their own electricity costs and obtain local approval for new projects. This represents a shift for the governor, who previously promoted such investments in the state.
The move comes as technology companies expand infrastructure to support artificial intelligence (AI), which requires high levels of computing power. Critics of the expansion have cited concerns regarding the amount of water used for cooling, the impact on electricity prices for residents, and other environmental factors. A Fox News poll conducted in late July indicated that 70% of voters oppose building a data center in their local area to support AI, while 78% support slowing construction to address community concerns.
In Michigan, Republican Senate candidate and former Rep. Mike Rogers announced Thursday his support for a one-year state moratorium on new data centers. Meanwhile, in Ohio, Democratic Senate candidate and former Sen. Sherrod Brown has criticized the record of his opponent, Sen. Jon Husted (R), regarding data center development. A memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee characterized the issue as a political liability for Husted.
The scale of the opposition is significant, with nearly three-quarters of surveyed voters favoring a pause in construction. For a typical household, the concrete change would be felt in utility bills and local resource availability; the new Pennsylvania requirements aim to prevent data center electricity demands from being subsidized by existing ratepayers. Residents in affected areas would notice a greater say in the approval process for large-scale facilities that typically consume millions of gallons of water and significant grid capacity.
The knock-on effects could influence the speed of AI development and the geographic distribution of tech infrastructure across the U.S. As candidates in competitive races distance themselves from the industry, it sets a precedent for localized regulation of what was previously viewed as a standard economic development tool. In Michigan, the proposed moratorium would halt all new projects for 12 months if enacted. Further legislative actions and state-level requirements are expected as the midterm election cycle continues.